Sharks: the animal answer guide

1. Introducing sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras What are sharks and how are they classified How many kinds of sharks are there How did sharks get their name When did sharks evolve What are the largest and smallest sharks alive today What is the fastest shark What is the largest shark that ever lived Where can I find fossil shark teeth How can you tell whether a fossil shark lived in a river, lake, or an ocean Why are sharks important Why should people care about sharks 2. Form and function of sharks What is the metabolism of a shark Are sharks cold-blooded or warm-blooded What kind of teeth do sharks have How many teeth does a shark have during its lifetime Do a shark's teeth change during its life What is the skeleton of a shark made of Does a shark have senses like ours How good is a shark's sense of smell How well can sharks hear How well can sharks see Can sharks see color How do sharks detect electric fields Do sharks sleep Do sharks have scales like other fishes How do sharks breathe under water Must a shark keep swimming to breathe How do sharks swim How do a shark's fins function during swimming How long can a shark live out of water Why do hammerhead sharks have such strange heads What kind of brains do sharks have How large is a shark's brain 3. Shark colors Why are so many sharks dark on top and light on the bottom Which sharks aren't countershaded Are any sharks colorful Are any sharks colorless What causes the different colors of sharks Is there a reason for color patterns of sharks What color are a shark's eyes Do a shark's colors change as it grows Do a shark's colors change at different times of the day or in different seasons Is there much geographic variation in the color of a shark species 4. Shark behavior Are sharks social Do sharks form schools Can sharks tell one another apart Do sharks fight Are any sharks territorial do sharks socialize with other kinds of animals Why do sharks swim at the surface with their dorsal fins sticking out How smart are sharks Do sharks use tools Do sharks play Do sharks talk What is "tonic immobility" 5. Shark ecology Do sharks migrate How do sharks navigate How many shark species live in rivers and lakes How far down in the ocean do sharks live Which geographic regions have the most species of sharks Which sharks are most or least abundant When during the day are sharks most active How do sharks survive the winter How do sharks survive droughts Are there sharks in the desert Do sharks have any enemies other than humans How do sharks avoid predators Do sharks get sick Do sharks have parasites How can you tell if a shark is sick Are sharks good for the environment

6. Reproduction and development

How do sharks reproduce

Do sharks lay eggs or do they give birth to live young

How long do female sharks hold young in their body

How long does it take for a baby shark to hatch from an egg case

Where do sharks lay their egg cases or give birth

Do sharks give birth or lay their egg cases at the same times and places every year

How many young does a mother shark produce

How often do sharks reproduce

What is a baby shark called

Are all the baby sharks in a mother full siblings

Do sharks care for their young

How is the sex of a shark determined

Can sharks reproduce asexually

Is there such a thing as a hybrid shark

Do male and female sharks live together

At what size and age do sharks mature

How long do sharks live

How fast do sharks grow

How can you tell the age of a shark

7. Foods and feeding

What do sharks eat

How do sharks find food

How do sharks catch their prey

When do sharks feed most

How often must sharks feed

Do sharks chew their food

How do sharks eat hard-shelled animals

Do sharks store their food

Must a shark turn on its back to feed

Do sharks cooperate with one another to feed

8. Sharks and humans

Do sharks make good pets

What is the best way to take care of a pet shark

Are any medicines made from sharks

Do sharks feel pain

What should I do if I find an injured shark

What should I do if I find a shark that looks diseases

How can I see sharks in the wild

How can I see sharks in captivity

9. Shark problems (from a human's viewpoint)

Are some sharks pests

Can there be too many sharks in an area

Are sharks dangerous to people

Why do sharks attack people

How likely are shark attacks

Can scientists estimate the size and species of a shark from bite marks

How can sharks be repelled

Do sharks have diseases and are they contagious

Is it safe to eat sharks

What should I do if I'm attacked or injured by a shark

10. Human problems (from a shark's viewpoint)

Are any sharks endangered

Will sharks be affected by global warming

Are sharks affected by pollution

How are sharks affected by litter

How do people catch sharks

Why do people hunt sharks

How are shark fisheries managed

What is bycatch and can it be reduced

What is finning

Is there such a thing as shark leather

What other parts of sharks are used by humans

Are boats dangerous for sharks

What can an ordinary citizen do to help sharks

11. Sharks in stories, media, and literature

What roles do sharks play in religion and mythology

What roles do sharks play in Western religions

Did early philosophers and naturalists mention sharks in their writings

What roles do sharks play in various cultures

What roles do sharks play in popular culture

What roles have sharks played in are and literature

12. "Sharkology"

Who studies sharks

Can anyone study sharks

Which species are best known

Which species are least known

How do scientists tell sharks apart

How do scientists study the movements of large sharks

Appendix A. Sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras of the world.